US socialists score shock Florida win as Trump’s picks stumble

The Democratic Socialist Angie Nixon achieved an unexpected victory in Florida's US Senate primary, defeating the heavily favored candidate Alexander Vindman. Nixon, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and backed by prominent left-wing lawmakers, triumphed over Vindman despite a significant fundraising gap and Vindman's rising national profile following his testimony against Trump during his first impeachment.

Nixon, who described her politics as "people-centred," emphasized her focus on addressing people's needs. Her win marked a significant upset for the Democratic left wing, which narrowly lost the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary weeks earlier. However, the result could also make the already challenging Florida Senate race more difficult for Democrats, given the state's strong Republican lean.

Despite this, mainstream Democrats secured victories in other Florida races. Congressmen Jared Moskowitz and Debbie Wasserman Schultz triumphed in newly redrawn and heavily Democratic districts, respectively. These victories provided a counterbalance to Nixon's success, highlighting the divergent preferences among Democratic voters as the party grapples with the question of whether a more confrontational left-wing message or a centrist strategy holds the key to regaining power.

Republicans also experienced setbacks, with Trump-backed congressman Cory Mills losing his primary due to controversy and a House Ethics Committee investigation, and another endorsed candidate failing to secure a southwest Florida House seat. Wyoming's state senator and Alaska's preferred Republican governor candidate both lost their primaries, adding to a growing list of failed Trump endorsements in Republican races this year.

Despite these losses, Trump-backed candidate Byron Donalds won Florida's Republican nomination for governor and will face former Republican congressman David Jolly in November. In Alaska, a former Democratic congresswoman and a Republican senator emerged victorious from the state's unusual all-party Senate primary, indicating a competitive race ahead.